Enjoying drinks with friends at the end of the week can be a great way to temporarily let go of life's most pressing responsibilities, but sometimes, it can be a bit challenging to exercise control and know when to say when. As soon as the liquor-induced "I love you, mannnnn(s)" start flowing and traditionally tight wadded buds end up miraculously paying for multiple rounds of booze, of course you're going to seize the opportunity to get hammered at minimal personal expense. All of us in this type of position naturally end up paying in an entirely different way the following morning, but we're willing to deal with the consequences because our judgment is impaired anyway. Carpe Diem, baby! Rather than suffering from a throbbing headache (among other unpleasant after-effects) and thinking that a jumbo-bottle of Advil is going to solve all your problems, there are several natural options that you might want to use to cushion the blow the next time you let yourself get lost on a wave of alcoholic merriment. Cheers!
Lime & Sugar Water
Otherwise known as limeade, this Ayurvedic go-to cure stimulates the liver, flushes out toxins and stabilizes blood sugar. Lime contains antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antibiotic and detoxifying flavonoids that alleviate nausea, congestion, flush out the excretory system, and help the kidneys to purge toxic substances from the body. Slowly drinking an 8 ounce glass of water with 1 teaspoon and sugar and 2 teaspoons of freshly squeezed lime juice will help to offset the damage that you did the night before, plus it tastes pretty refreshing, too!
Asparagus
Asparagus is high in the key amino acids alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) which metabolize ethanol into its 'nontoxic' acetate form. Of course, there are many other health benefits to this green veggie, including very high folate and vitamin K levels, well-known detoxification, antifungal, anticancer, antiviral and antioxidant properties. If you don't have the extract on hand, toss the leaves or spears into soup, scrambled eggs, a stir fry or salad to benefit from its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to clean the muscles and tissues of built-up waste.
Wheatgrass
The chlorophyll in this natural detoxifier offers so many valuable body-enhancing benefits, including water/blood cleansing effects and powerful antioxidant capabilities that recharge the cells of the body and are believed to lower colon cancer risk. The vibrant green plant is also believed to alleviate high blood pressure, drain the lymphatic system, restore energy, replenish the quality of blood and create an unfavorable environment for bacterial growth. Proponents generally harvest and "juice" wheatgrass, consuming one ounce daily (which contains the same health benefits in 2 ½ pounds of conventional leafy greens). Hangover sufferers can get their wheatgrass fix in the form of a purchased smoothie or a green shot from a health food juice bar.
Raw Cabbage
Related to the wild mustard plant, the distinctive tang in fresh cabbage is due to organic compounds called glucosinolates which block the growth of cancerous tumors and protect the body against overall oxidative damage. Containing large amounts of vitamin C as well as the anti-inflammatory amino acid glutamine, cabbage has long been used to treat acute inflammation, offer relief for headaches and help aid the metabolic process of alcohol assimilation. Many swear by the therapeutic powers of raw cabbage in conjunction with tomato juice, although a freshly prepared cole slaw salad would likely work just as well.
Ginger
This root, famous for alleviating motion sickness, indigestion and unsettled stomachs, has very potent anti-viral properties which come in handy during the cold and flu season. Additionally, new American Association for Cancer research has found that it triggers the death of cancer cells, presumably due to its terpenes and oleo-resin ginger oils which together cleanse the body of toxins and stimulate the entire system. While taking 500 mg capsules every few hours would work well to ease aches and pains, brewing fresh ginger root in boiling water for at least 20 minutes releases a spicy, flavorful tea that can effectively flush your system if you sip it continually throughout the day.
Kudzu Extract
Considered an invasive southern vine, this erosion-reducing plant which happens to thrive with minimal care is now being re-evaluated for its potential capabilities as a natural diabetic treatment and liver aid. According to The Herb Companion, in addition to being valued for its diuretic properties and ability to treat high blood pressure and angina pectoris, kudzu stabilizes liver enzyme activity, even regenerating liver tissue which can come in mighty handy when you're a serial happy hour imbiber. The combination of puerarin, isoflavones and diadzin that it contains works synergistically to alleviate hangovers in relatively minimal time.
Bananas
One of America's most beloved fruits, the average citizen consumes 27 pounds of bananas every year, imparting a blend of complex carbohydrates, potassium, manganese, dietary fiber and vitamin C to the system. Additionally, each yellow fruit contains tryptophan which triggers the body to produce a gentle sedative called serotonin as well as mood-enhancing vitamin B6. Since consuming too much alcohol dehydrates the body due to its diuretic effect, the magnesium and potassium in bananas work together to replenish water-soluble minerals that are normally flushed out during the shot-pounding process. Consuming a few bananas with tall glass of water is the easiest line of defense, but blending up your own fresh smoothie is another tasty and very effective choice. Just puree 2 bananas with 1 ½ cups of milk and a dash of honey, which can help to accelerate your body's alcohol metabolism ability thanks to its high fructose content.
Care to share your own tried-and-true natural hangover remedies? The comments section below is eagerly awaiting your feedback...
Comments
Leave a comment